Pron nciation

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British English Vowel Sounds Emma
w i t h

Introduction
Today you’re going to learn how to pronounce vowel sounds in British English.

You will learn the monophthongs, diphthongs and triphthongs found in British
English.

At the end of the lesson, you’ll practise the vowels in 15 minimal pairs with
commonly confused vowel sounds. These will help you understand the differences
between similar sounding vowel sounds.

This lesson models Received Pronunciation and Modern Received Pronunciation.

Received Pronunciation (also known as ‘RP’) is considered the standard form of

pronunciation from England. It is widely used in dictionaries and as usually used as a
model to teach British English pronunciation. However, do be aware that lots of other
accents exist in England.

Modern RP is simply a more modern (and more widely used) variant of RP. Some of
the sounds in RP can be perceived as a little bit ‘posh’, this is why I teach the Modern
RP variants of some sounds.

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 Pron nciation
v
British English Vowel Sounds Emma
w i t h

Monophthongs
A monophthong is a type of vowel sound in speech. It is a single vowel sound that
sits in a single syllable, for example /æ/ in ‘man’ or /ʊ/ and /ə/ in ‘woman’.

There are 12 monophthongs in British English, but you will learn 13 in this lesson.

Monophthongs stay the same from the beginning to the end of the sound.

1. /iː/
First: eat /iːt/
Medial: feel /fiːl/
Final: see /siː/

2. /ɪ/
First: inside /ɪnˈsaɪd/
Medial: kitchen /ˈkɪtʃ.ən/
Final: - (words do not end in /ɪ/ as they tend to end in /i/)

3. /i/
This sound does not appear in the British phonemic chart, but you
may see it used in transcriptions. It tends to appear at the end of
words that have a weak syllable and the spelling ‘y’. For example:

happy /ˈhæp.i/
coffee /ˈkɒf.i/
lucky /ˈlʌk.i/

4. /ʊ/
First: -
Medial: put /pʊt/
Final: into /ˈɪn.tʊ/
(/ˈɪn.tʊ/ is the weak form. /ˈɪn.tuː/ is the strong form)

Make
T op Tip
sure y !
5. /uː/ your t
ongu
ou do
not c
/uː/ so e for t url
First: ooze /uːz/ vowe
unds!
T
he /ʊ/
here a a nd
l soun re no
Medial: unusual /ʌnˈjuː.ʒu.əl/ which d s
requir in English
your t e you
Final: blue /bluː/ ongu t
e at th o curl
like in e side
Frenc s,
h.

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 Pron nciation
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British English Vowel Sounds Emma
w i t h

6. /e/
First: every /ˈev.ri/
Medial: bed /bed/
Final: -

7. /ə/
First: about /əˈbaʊt/
Medial: banana /bəˈnɑː.nə/
Final: doctor /ˈdɒk.tə/
ip!
8. /ɜː/ Top T ccents are
ha at
Britis s means th ’
First: early /ˈɜː.li/ Most hi ‘r
n-rh otic. T ounce the
no
not p
ron wel
Medial: girl /ɡɜːl/ n a vo
we do t is betwee if it’s at
i nt, or
Final: fur /fɜː/ when nsona word.
a co
and d of a
the en
9. /ɔː/
First: always /ˈɔːl.weɪz/
Medial: born /bɔːn/
Final: core /kɔː/

10. /æ/
First: apple /ˈæp.əl/
Medial: cat /kæt/
Final: -

11. /ʌ/
First: under /ˈʌn.də/
Medial: stuff /stʌf/
Final: -

12. /ɑː/
First: arm /ɑːm/
Medial: start /stɑːt/
Final: car /kɑː/

13. /ɒ/
First: on /ɒn/
Medial: lot /lɒt/
Final: -

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 Pron nciation
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British English Vowel Sounds Emma
w i t h

Diphthongs
Diphthongs are a combination of two vowel sounds together in one syllable, for
example /eɪ/ as in ‘day’.

There are eight diphthongs in English.

1. /eɪ/
First: eight /eɪt/
Medial: face /feɪs/
Final: play /pleɪ/

2. /aɪ/
First: ice /aɪs/
Medial: time /taɪm/
Final: cry /kraɪ/

3. /ɔɪ/
First: oil /ɔɪl/
Medial: choice /tʃɔɪs/
Final: boy /bɔɪ/

4. /aʊ/
First: out /aʊt/
Medial: mouth /maʊθ/
Final: now /naʊ/ To p Tip!
/əʊ/ is
Mode R P ,w
rn RP hile /oʊ/ in
perce . Som
5. /əʊ/ - /oʊ/ more
ive th
e RP v
e peo
ple
‘post’, ariant
First: only /ˈəʊn.li/ so be
ar tha s
a
mind t in
!
Medial: boat /bəʊt/
Final: know /nəʊ/

6. /ɪə/
First: ear /ɪə/
First: earring /ˈɪə.rɪŋ/
Final: near /nɪə/

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 Pron nciation
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British English Vowel Sounds Emma
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7. /eə/ - /eː/
First: air /eə/
Medial: fairy /ˈfeə.ri/
Final: where /weə/ !
Top Tip at this
mind th monly
Keep in ery com
8. /ʊə/ diphtho
n g is v
/ɔː/ in th
e UK!
n ced a s
First: - pronou
Medial: curious /ˈkjʊə.ri.əs/
Final: pure /pjʊə/

Triphthongs
Triphthongs are three vowel sounds together in one syllable. This lesson
includes triphthongs in just one syllable, like in the word ‘fire’, as well as words
which contain three vowel sounds together, such as ‘diet’, which actually consists
of two syllables (di-et).

1. /aɪə/
First: iron /aɪən/
Medial: diet /ˈdaɪ.ət/
Final: fire /faɪə/

2. /aʊə/
First: hour /aʊə/
Medial: powerful /ˈpaʊə.fəl/
Final: tower /taʊə/

3. /eɪə/
First: -
Medial: layered /ˈleɪ.əd/
Final: player /ˈpleɪ.ə/

4. /ɔɪə/
First: -
Medial: loyal /ˈlɔɪ.ə/
Final: lawyer /ˈlɔɪ.ə/

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 Pron nciation
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British English Vowel Sounds Emma
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5. /əʊə/
First: -
Medial: lowered /ˈləʊ.ə/
Final: slower /sləʊ.ə/

Minimal pairs
Minimal pairs are two words where only one sound is different. For example
‘ship’ and ‘sheep’ only have one sound difference – /ɪ/ and /iː/.

This section focuses on 15 vowel minimal pairs that have been carefully chosen
for you to practise as they are the most commonly confused sounds by English
learners.

1. /iː/ vs /ɪ/
sheep - ship /ʃiːp/ - /ʃɪp/
leave - live /liːv/ - /lɪv/
heat - hit /hiːt/ - /hɪt/

2. /e/ vs /æ/
bet - bat /bet/ - /bæt/
met - mat /met/ - /mæt/
men - man /men/ - /mæn/

3. /ʊ/ vs /uː/
full - fool /fʊl/ - /fuːl/
would - wooed /wʊd/ - /wuːd/
could - cooed /kʊd/ - /kuːd/

4. /ʌ/ vs /æ/
luck - lack /lʌk/ - /læk/
cup - cap /kʌp/ - /kæp/
cut - cat /kʌt/ - /kæt/

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 Pron nciation
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British English Vowel Sounds Emma
w i t h

5. /ɒ/ vs /ɔː/
cot - caught /kɒt/ - /kɔːt/
not - nought /nɒt/ - /nɔːt/
bot - bought /bɒt/ - /bɔːt/

6. /əʊ/ (/oʊ/) vs /ɔː/

code - cord /kəʊd/ - /kɔːd/
boat - bought /bəʊt/ - /bɔːt/
so - saw /səʊ/ - /sɔː/

7. /ɒ/ vs /əʊ/
bot - boat /bɒt/ - /bəʊt/
cot - coat /kɒt/ - /kəʊt/
not - note /nɒt/ - /nəʊt/

8. /eɪ/ vs /aɪ/
late - light /leɪt/ - /laɪt/
vein - vine /veɪn/ - /vaɪn/
main - mine /meɪn/ - /maɪn/

9. /e/ vs /ɜː/
bed - bird /bed/ - /bɜːd/
head - heard /hed/ - /hɜːd/
end - earned /end/ - /ɜːnd/

10. /ɪ/ vs /e/

bit - bet /bɪt/ - /bet/
big - beg /bɪɡ/ - /beɡ/
sit - set /sɪt/ - /set/

11. /ʌ/ vs /ɜː/

cut - curt /kʌt/ - /kɜːt/
luck - lurk /lʌk/ - /lɜːt/
shut - shirt /ʃʌk/ - /ʃɜːt/

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British English Vowel Sounds Emma
w i t h

12. /e/ vs /eɪ/

sell - sale /sel/ - /seɪl/
wet - wait /wet/ - /weɪt/
let - late /let/ - /leɪt/

13. /ɑ:/ and /ɜ:/

heart - hurt /hɑːt/ - /hɜːt/
barn - burn /bɑːn/ - /bɜːn/
star - stir /stɑː/ - /stɜː/

14. /ʌ/ vs /ɑ:/

cut - cart /kʌt/ - /kɑːt/
hum - harm /hʌm/ - /hɑːm/
come - calm /kʌm/ - /kɑːm/

15. /ɜː/ vs /ɔː/

learn - lawn /lɜːn/ - /lɔːn/
work - walk /wɜːk/ - /wɔːk/
firm - form /fɜːm/ - /fɔːm/

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 Pron nciation
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Activities Emma
w i t h

Word Search

R A I N G A Q S I T D S

Y E Q S I C H F R O P A

N O I S E M O L P P W O

P C A T I B U K E H E L

G O P D Q G R A T O W N

O A M S U N L R O E T E

L T X P L A Y E R L E A

B V N B T E C G F I R E

C W L O W E R T K U A M

Can you find all the words?

One of them has been done for you as an example.

Monophthongs: top, c_t, b_d, s_t, s_n

Diphthongs: b_ke, r_ _n, c_ _t, n_ _se, t_ _n

Triphthongs: f_r_, h_ _r, pl_y_r, l_w_r

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 Pron nciation
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Answers Emma
w i t h

Word Search
Monophthongs: cat, bed, sit, top, sun

Diphthongs: bike, rain, coat, noise, town

Triphthongs: fire, hour, player, lower

R A I N G A Q S I T D S

Y E Q S I C H F R O P A

N O I S E M O L P P W O

P C A T I B U K E H E L

G O P D Q G R A T O W N

O A M S U N L R O E T E

L T X P L A Y E R L E A

B V N B T E C G F I R E

C W L O W E R T K U A M

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 Pron nciation
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Activities Emma
w i t h

Read a Story
Now, can you find the same words in the story?

Monophthongs: cat, bed, sit, top, sun

Diphthongs: bike, rain, coat, noise, town

Triphthongs: fire, hour, player, lower

On a sunny morning, Emma woke up and got out of bed, ready to start her day. She looked
out the window and saw the sun shining brightly. It was the perfect day for an adventure.

After a quick breakfast, Emma decided to ride her bike to the nearby town. She put on her
coat, grabbed her backpack, and set off. The town was only an hour away, and she loved the
fresh air and the feeling of freedom as she peddled along the country road.

As she was arriving into town, Emma heard a noise behind her. She turned to see a cat sitting
on top of a wall. She laughed and continued on her way, enjoying the peaceful scenery.
However, the sky started to darken, and soon it began to rain. She didn't mind, though, as she
had her coat to keep her dry. She pulled her hood lower, and carried on.

In the town centre, she saw a group of kids playing soccer in the park. They were having so
much fun, and she decided to sit on a bench and watch for a while. The player in the red shirt
was especially good, scoring goal after goal.

As the rain cleared and the sun came out again, Emma felt the warmth on her face. She
decided to head back home before it got too late. On her way back, she saw a small bonfire by
the river where some people were gathered. The fire looked inviting, and she stopped to
warm her hands and chat for a bit.

Finally, as the sun was setting, Emma reached home. She felt tired but happy. She put her
bike away and went inside to sit down and relax. She reflected on her day and thought about
how the simple pleasures of a bike ride, a cozy coat, and a friendly chat by the fire made her
feel content.

Emma smiled to herself as she climbed into bed, ready for a good night's sleep. She knew
that no matter what, the sun would rise again the next day, bringing new adventures and
stories to tell.

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 Pron nciation
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Answers Emma
w i t h

Read a Story
On a sunny morning, Emma woke up and got out of bed, ready to start her day. She looked out
the window and saw the sun shining brightly. It was the perfect day for an adventure.

After a quick breakfast, Emma decided to ride her bike to the nearby town. She put on her coat,
grabbed her backpack, and set off. The town was only an hour away, and she loved the fresh air
and the feeling of freedom as she peddled along the country road.

As she was arriving into town, Emma heard a noise behind her. She turned to see a cat sitting on
top of a wall. She laughed and continued on her way, enjoying the peaceful scenery. However, the
sky started to darken, and soon it began to rain. She didn't mind, though, as she had her coat to
keep her dry. She pulled her hood lower, and carried on.

In the town centre, she saw a group of kids playing soccer in the park. They were having so much
fun, and she decided to sit on a bench and watch for a while. The player in the red shirt was
especially good, scoring goal after goal.

As the rain cleared and the sun came out again, Emma felt the warmth on her face. She decided
to head back home before it got too late. On her way back, she saw a small bonfire by the river
where some people were gathered. The fire looked inviting, and she stopped to warm her hands
and chat for a bit.

Finally, as the sun was setting, Emma reached home. She felt tired but happy. She put her bike
away and went inside to sit down and relax. She reflected on her day and thought about how the
simple pleasures of a bike ride, a cozy coat, and a friendly chat by the fire made her feel content.

Emma smiled to herself as she climbed into bed, ready for a good night's sleep. She knew that no
matter what, the sun would rise again the next day, bringing new adventures and stories to tell.

Remember!
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is with 1-to-1 lessons!
Get 50% off your first lesson
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